ESPN analyst Jon Barry says Warriors could “sneak in” playoffs

Jon Barry was born in Oakland, went to De La Salle High-Concord and played for the Warriors in 1995-96 — 20 years after his father, Rick, won an NBA championship here. He gets back to Napa every July to visit his mother, and he’s in town to analyze Wednesday’s game against Portland.

What are your impressions of the Warriors?: “They’re only one game in the loss column away from being in the playoffs. I think they’ve played pretty well, especially of late. Overall, they’ve been tremendous, considering they have a roster that you wouldn’t think would be a playoff team. If they can get some confidence and figure out how to start winning some games late, maybe they can sneak in.”

What does that say about coach Mark Jackson: “He’s been great. The first thing everyone says is that he’s a tremendous leader. We all knew that about Mark. He was that type of player and that type of guy off the court at all times. I think he’s brought a different culture here. There’s a new belief system. He’s finding a way to win, regardless of the roster.”

Are you convinced that Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry can coexist?: “I think they’re both terrific players. To me, Monta Ellis is an All-Star. I think he missed out. I think he was the biggest omission in the Western Conference. I love the way he has played, and Stephen Curry is a smart, heady player. I have no problem with the two of them. I don’t know why everybody wants to break them up.”

That argument usually has to do with defensive liabilities. There’s thought that they need a defensive presence better than Andris Biedrins behind the smallish guards: “I think his numbers were better under Nellie, because the team ran and there were so many more possessions. When there are that many more shots, there are that many more rebounds to grab. That up-and-down style fit his game. But that’s not the way they play now. It’s not just run-and-gun. Possessions are down, and he’s never been a guy you could throw the ball to in the post. That’s not his game. He’s a putback guy or a guy who runs the floor and gets some easy baskets. I just don’t think he really fits the style of play the Warriors are playing now, but they don’t have much size. He continues to start, but if he isn’t rolling, they bring in one of the smaller guys.”

Can they get away with continuing to play this much small ball?: “There aren’t many centers in the game, so it really isn’t much of a problem. Obviously, I’d hate to have to play against the Lakers’ two big guys every night. David Lee can’t play against Andrew Bynum, but there aren’t many guys out there who are that big. The Clippers have DeAndre Jordan, but he’s not a back-to-basket scorer. Against most teams, you don’t need tremendous size, and David Lee holds his own. I think there are plenty of opportunities to get away with playing that way.”

When they play small, Klay Thompson and Brandon Rush really stretch the floor: “Klay can flat out stroke it. He can just really shoot. Once he learns to put the ball on the floor, it’s going to create even more space for him. I really like the way he’s played. Between him and Brandon Rush, they’re saving this team from the three-point line. These two guys are really stroking it.”

Does it say anything about the franchise that ESPN is broadcasting one of their games in February?: “Maybe it’s because our old buddy Mark Jackson is the coach. We used to put them on a little bit, because they were fun to watch with Nellie’s up-and-down style. There aren’t many options that are attractive when you come out West. There isn’t a lot of exposure, and there is an East Coast bias. But look, they’re one game out of the playoffs in the loss column. There’s a whole new regime. There’s a different atmosphere. These fans have been starving for a long time for a perennial winner, but it’s still a great place to be.”